Recovery from accident gives Rockets' Jones reason to be grateful

For the stunning array of injuries that have taken Terrence Jones off the court and into training rooms - a long list goes well beyond the usual sprained ankles and pulled hamstrings that are part of his profession - the feeling this time was different.

In his four seasons with the Rockets, Jones, 24, has gone out with everything from a mysterious nerve condition that threatened his career to a partially collapsed lung. He has had injuries to his jaw, ribs and wrist. He went out in the preseason with a concussion and during the season with a lacerated eyelid and stitches that scratched his eye.

Yet this time, when he returned to practice Sunday for the first time since his Feb. 3 car crash, Jones did not feel cursed by misfortune. More than ever, he felt fortunate.

"This one really made me (feel) more blessed just about where I am and what I get to do and what I love to do," said the 6-9 forward. "It was more of a scare than anything. I'm just happy to be out there with my team again."

Jones crashed into another vehicle on his way to the Rockets' flight to Phoenix, remained in the hospital for two days of tests, and was out for the remaining three games before the All-Star break. He began working out Wednesday as part of the NBA concussion protocol and was cleared to join the Rockets on Sunday.

"It was a big scare," Jones said. "My first accident. My teammates were there checking on me. My family came and made sure I was OK. It was a little scare. Accidents happen. Blessed to be perfectly fine, able to play. I'm excited to be back out here."

Jones returned with no physical limitations, but there were signs he'd spent more than two weeks off the court. With Josh Smith's move into the starting lineup Friday, interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Jones will work in as a backup power forward in the Rockets' latest attempt to find stability at the position.

"Obviously, he has to knock a little rust off," Bickerstaff said. "Physically, he was good. He's in good health, good shape. No pain. Nothing hanging over him.

"The good thing about him and Josh, they give you versatility. They both can play on the perimeter. (They are) not stretch guys per se, but they can both make plays from the perimeter. They can attack off the bounce. They're both very good passers. They're playmaking fours, which makes them similar to smalls."

Struggled at start

In 45 games this season, Jones has averaged 9.3 points, on a career-low 45.1 percent shooting, and 4.5 rebounds. He began the season as the starter at power forward when Donatas Motiejunas was recovering from last season's back surgery and Smith was with the Clippers. But after 11 games, Jones was replaced in the starting lineup by Clint Capela.

Since then, the Rockets have tried small lineups, playing Trevor Ariza at power forward, and Friday they made Smith the starter.

"We've tried to find the balance of who to play there, whether it's been injuries, whether it's been acquisitions," Bickerstaff said. "You go through the list, and everybody at that spot has been through something. Trying to find consistency for those guys in those minutes so far has been difficult.

"We have guys we trust and who can play. We're going to put them on the floor versus whoever. We'll figure out our matchups. We have versatile defenders. Those guys can guard perimeters. Trevor can guard fours. James (Harden) can guard fours. Versatility is one of our strengths on the defensive end."

Defensive liability

Jones appears to have regressed, particularly defensively, while struggling to stay on the floor. He is last among the team's regulars in defensive rating and net rating, despite flashes the Rockets had hoped would grow into greater consistency by his fourth season.

His latest return could be the most important of many, with the Rockets fighting for a playoff spot and Jones a restricted free agent after the season. For now, he feels fortunate just to be healthy and back.

"After the first day in the hospital, I said it was scary, and it could have been a lot worse," he said. "I was just happy to be OK. The car was totaled, but my body was fine.

"It's an accident. It could have happened to anybody. It's one of those one-time things that happen to me in life. I wanted to get back in here, work on my game, and make sure I'm ready to make this playoff push."

Jonathan Feigen has been the Rockets beat writer since 1998 and a basketball nut since before Willis Reed limped out for Game 7. He became a sports writer because the reporter that was supposed to cover the University of Delaware basketball team decided to instead play one more season of college lacrosse and has never looked back.

Feigen, who has won APSE, APME and United States Basketball Writers Association awards from El Campo to Houston, came to Texas in 1981 to cover the Rice Birds, was Sports Editor in Garland before moving to Dallas to cover everything from the final hurrah of the Southwest Conference to SMU after the death penalty.

After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1990, Feigen has covered the demise of the SWC, the rise of the Big 12 and the Rockets at their championship best.